, 1887-08-03
MYSTERIES OF MICROSCOPY


g~ator-Yiew of a Fly's Tongue.
Mr.. George NJ. Hopkins, of The Scien-
titic American, is a very enthusiastic mi
croscopist. He has been very faithful
and persevering in his Investigations. and
has written many articles calculated 10
popularize the science, and thus open the
door which leads to a great amount of
pleasure in the broad field of nature. Mr..
Hopkins instrument and attachments
are valued at $3.50. An illustrated article
in The Scientific American supplement
thoroughly demonstrates the fact that
much excellent work can be done with
what is known as a toy microscope. 1t
says:
Some have enormously supposed an
expensive instrument and elaborate ac-
cessories necessary to the pursuit of mi
croscopical Investigations. These things
are, of course, desirable; but when one
has learned all that can be learned by the
aid of the simple and inexpensive micro
scope, he is very far advanced, and may
with propriety present his instrument to
some one unable to purchase for himself,
and proceed to the selection of something
better suited to his advanced position in
microscopy"
Irecently had the pleasure of spending
an hour with Mr.. Hopkins at his resi-
dence, looking at a variety of objects
through his splendid instruments. The
pleasure of doing this was greatly height
ened by having in the person of my host
a person who was thoroughly conversant
with the subject and whose skilled hand
could arrange the object and equalize the
light in such a way that the sections of
bugs, beetles and birds could be shown at
their best, while at the same time impart-
ing invaluable information regarding
each subject viewed. Sitting down at a
revolving table in the center of the room,
Mr.. Hopkins said:
Suppose we look at the fy's tongue?"
"All right, said l.. Files have been
investigating me for a long time, and
nothing would give me more pleasure
than to see a fly's tongue transfixed and
to investigate it calmly under the micro
scope
Accordingly Mr.. Hopkins placed the
subject in position, and, turning the
table, 1 brought my eye to bear upon the
object, The fly's tongue is certainly a
complicated piece of mechanism. No de-
scription would do it justice; it must be
seen to be appreciated. The next subject
was a section of a horsefly, showing the
complete kit of tools with which he pur-
sues his Investigations into the flesh of
horses. There was a fine saw, with teeth
plainly visible, a piercer for irritating the
wound which cause the blood to flow,
and all arranged for use. Then we looked
at the sawfly which frequents rose and
gooseberry bushes, n saws places in the
twigs and deposits its eggs. The singing
apparatus of the ordinary honey bee next
claimed our attention. Having had some
experience with a bees business depart
ment, / congratulated myself that the
mystery of its operation was about to be
unveiled. The sight confirmed me in my
purpose previously formed of giving bee
hives a wide berth in future. A bees
singer looks formidable under Il micro
scope. Teeth project from the side of it
like a swordfish, and attached to it is the
poison bag, which contains the article
which when inserted into a mans hand
by an enterprising bee makes him wish
that he had never been born.
The hornet was mex investigated. 1t
has been said that he differs from the
flea in his respect: that when you put
our finger on him you know he is there;
Much as we dislike to meet the hornet
and be interviewed by him, especially
when seated on the grass eating loaf cake
at q picnic, he appears remarkably we'll
under n microscope. Mr.. Hopkins called
my attention to this interesting fact. On
the edge of the hornets wings are a
series of hooks which at certain times
are used to hook the wings together, but
NJ one has yet succeeded in hooking or
unlocking the wings of the captured in
sect. The hooks were plainly seen
through the instrument. A bees foot
n a fringed paddle of the water beetle
closed our Investigations among the in
sect tribe. A section of the leaf of the
deutia plant was next shown. 1t was
covered with little stars perfectly formed.
These stars are composed of slick, and if
the leaf is burned the stars are not con-
sumed. Diatoms are a subject for special
study. They are vegetable plants COM
prising innumerable varieties, which can
only be seen and classified by the aid of
the microscope. Diatoms have been seen
upon which 125, 600 transverse lines have
been shown by the aid of the most pow
erful microscopes. Polarlzed light is
another department of microscopical
study. The polarizer is attached to the
microscope, and by its means the most
beautiful forms and colors are seen.
There are an infinite number of available
subjects in this realm. Chemical crystals,
mineral sections, nickel prisms and OBJ
jects from vegetable life all show a vast
variety of colors and forms.-Brooklyn
Eagle.